Indonesia’s Expanding Bureaucracy Threatens Civil Service Integrity
As Indonesia aims to become the world’s fifth largest economy by 2045, President Prabowo Subianto’s latest move seems particularly puzzling: creating the country’s most bloated bureaucracy since 1966. His new ‘Merah Putih’ cabinet, featuring 109 members and splitting nine ministries into twenty-one, signals a significant shift away from efficient governance at a time when bureaucratic oversight is already weak.
The Fragmented Ministry Issue
This fragmentation not only increases administrative complexity but also poses substantial coordination challenges and slows down decision-making processes. In 2014, the Indonesian Civil Service Commission (KASN) and the 2014 Civil Service Law marked significant milestones in Indonesia’s bureaucratic reform. However, these reforms are now under threat due to recent structural changes.
The Struggle of KASN
The KASN’s operational effectiveness was hampered by enforcement limitations, securing enforcement in only 416 out of 619 reported cases. This breakdown highlighted systemic issues across the bureaucracy, including violations in functional and high-ranking leadership positions. Political campaigning online further compromised neutrality and merit-based recruitment.
Strong political intervention, particularly during elections, has undermined KASN’s efforts to enforce fair practices. This not only compromises electoral processes but also damages public trust in the civil service.
Dismantling KASN’s Mandate
The dismantling of KASN’s mandate began during President Joko Widodo’s administration with Law Number 20 of 2023, repealing KASN’s legal foundation. This process was completed through Presidential Regulations Number 91 and 92 of 2024, transferring KASN’s functions to the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform and the National Civil Service Agency, effective August 23, 2024.
This transfer raises concerns about oversight independence by placing monitoring responsibilities within the same branch of government being overseen.
Increasing Civil Service Violations
The growing scale of civil service violations has further challenged bureaucratic integrity. Between 2020 and 2022, KASN received 2,073 reports of civil service neutrality violations, with an additional 219 cases reported by December 2023. During the 2024 election period, 464 civil servants were reported for neutrality violations—a substantial caseload now transferred to the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform and National Civil Service Agency.
Conflicts of Interest and Politicisation
The compromise of oversight through institutional restructuring extends beyond investment concerns to threaten the entire civil service system. Moving oversight functions to executive agencies potentially creates fundamental conflicts of interest in evaluating and overseeing merit-based systems in public service. Delegating supervisory authority to ministries or government agencies risks politicising the commission, gravely threatening professionalisation efforts.
Indonesia ranks 65th out of 141 countries in measures of civil service meritocracy, lagging behind most ASEAN neighbours. The dismantling of independent oversight, combined with expanded executive authority, signals a concerning centralisation of power.
The Path Forward
Indonesia needs to establish a new oversight body with stronger institutional safeguards, including constitutional-level protection against arbitrary dissolution, dedicated funding mechanisms, and explicit enforcement authority. The body’s leadership should be selected through a transparent process involving multiple stakeholders, equipped with regional offices, and focused on high-risk areas.
The success of this reformed oversight system will depend on sustained commitment to its implementation. Prioritising interim oversight mechanisms while forming the new body ensures continuous scrutiny and accountability. Regular publication of comprehensive reports ensures transparency and public accountability.
The Turning Point for Indonesia
Indonesia stands at a critical juncture. It can either embrace robust, independent oversight to drive administrative excellence or risk weakening its reform agenda amid expanding executive power and diminishing accountability. President Prabowo’s expanded cabinet and the dismantled oversight mark a troubling departure from professional bureaucratic standards, setting a precedent that threatens Indonesia’s economic ambitions.
For Indonesia’s economic aspirations to succeed, the path forward should prioritise bureaucratic accountability over political expediency.
Emba, a PhD candidate at the Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, provides expert insight into these critical issues.
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